Living to 100 in Okinawa
Naha is the capital of Okinawa Prefecture, the tropical island group south of mainland Japan. I was told by some Okinawans that they consider their…
Does the egg salad sandwich at 7-Eleven Japan live up to the hype?
The short answer is yes. I (Merge) have now been in Japan for 18 days, and I have not yet tried the (in)famous egg salad…
Wacky, weird and wonderful Osaka
Osaka is Japan’s third largest city by population. While the #1 Tokyo is known for its iconic modernization and the #2 Kyoto for its classic…
Tantalizing Tokyo … religion and royalty
When you think about Japan, the first city that often comes to mind is Tokyo, its capital. With almost 9 million inhabitants, is by far…
Charming calming Kochi
Kochi, located in Shikoku, Japan, is a coastal city known for its historical significance and scenic coastal views. It offers a mix of cultural attractions…
Volcanic encounters of the close kind!
Kagoshima, a city on the southern coast of Kyushu, Japan, is known for two things – its absolutely picturesque bay, and the nearby active volcano…
Nagasaki – the day the Fat Man came …
Nagasaki is a port city located on the west side of Kyushu Island. Starting in the 16th century and for almost four centuries, it greeted…
Scenic Sasebo
As I (Merge) continued my travels around Japan on the MS Westerdam, we stopped for a day at the port of Sasebo, our first stop…
Sakaiminato – Manga and anime on display
As the MS Westerdam circled its way around Japan, my (Merge’s) next stop was Sakaiminato, a coastal city located in the Tottori Prefecture. The town…
Sokcho, South Korea – just minutes from North Korea
Sokcho, located in the northeastern region of South Korea, is a coastal city nestled along the Sea of Japan. Most people visit because it serves…
Hakodate – home of the Goryokaku Fort
Hakodate is one of the main cities on Hokkaido, Japan’s northernmost island. Situated on the south coast, it is a port city with a rich…